Production of A356/TiB₂ Nanocomposite Feedstock for Thixoforming by an Ultrasonic Method

Abstract:

Metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) are promising materials to produce engineering components for the automotive and aerospace industry. This study aims to determine the feasibility of Al/TiB2 nanocomposite fabrication by the combination of the ultrasonic method and flux-assisted particle incorporation for the production of thixoforming feedstock material. Flux assistance has been invoked to attempt to overcome challenges with the presence of oxide on the surface of the foil in the aluminium foil capsulate method. A356 alloy has been reinforced with 0.25 wt.% TiB2 nanoparticles using different methods; 1. Flux-assisted casting, 2. Flux-assisted casting with ultrasonic cavitation, and 3. The Al foil capsulate method for particle feeding with ultrasonic cavitation. The composite fabricated by the ultrasonic method with the use of flux agent provided a non-dendritic microstructure which is the requirement for thixoforming. It was found that the flux-assisted casting method is not appropriate for achieving nanoparticle entry into the melt in MMNC fabrication due to the buoyancy forces of nanoparticles, unlike micron-sized particles.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volumes 192-193)
• Pages: 66-71
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.192-193.66
• Online since: October 2012
• Authors: Sinan Kandemir, David P. Weston, H.V. Atkinson
• Keywords: Aluminum (Al), Metal Matrix Nanocomposites, Semi-Solid Processing, Thixoforming, TiB₂ Nanoparticle, Ultrasonic Cavitation

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